[Results of sutures of the internal meniscus associated with reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament in chronic knee joint instability. Apropos of 42 cases, 30 of them controlled by arthrography].

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

Most authors agree on the importance of medial meniscus preservation in the case of A.C.L. reconstructive surgery. The purpose of this study was to analyze the anatomical results of sutures of medial meniscus tears by the means of arthrography.

MATERIAL

Medial meniscus 42 sutures for peripheral tears at the posterior horn (length between 10 and 50 mm, 70 per cent greater than 20 mm) had been performed through an open procedure using a posterior approach. The average age of the patients was 24 years (17-54) with a clear male predominance (64 per cent). The average age at the time of injury was 22 years, 6 months.

METHODS

The patients were operated on by the same surgeon, with the same technique. Resorbable sutures were used spaced every-3 mm, and tightened outside the joint. The A.C.L. was reconstructed by a bone-patellar tendon-bone technique (modified K.G. Jones). A first series of 13-patients were no weight bearing allowed for 6 weeks post-operatively. A second series of 29 patients were allowed immediate partial weight bearing. All the patients were permitted active flexion. All the patients had been examined with a minimum of 6 months follow-up. They were all controlled clinically (results evaluated with the I.K.D.C. score) and with passive dynamic X rays to measure residual laxity. 32 patients had an arthrogram before the operation in the aim to compare with the postoperative arthrogram. 30 patients had an arthrogram after an average of 21 months. 12 patients refused follow-up arthrograms. 9 patients had arthroscopy for pain or effusion.

RESULTS

All the patients obtained a range of flexion-between 90 degrees and 110 degrees at 4 weeks. A flexed contracture of 10 degrees was noted in only 1 case. Meniscal functional results were good for 32 cases after a mean follow-up of 4 years and 4 months. Arthrograms in 30 cases showed no residual tear in 19 cases (63 per cent), 3 cases had incomplete healing and 8 cases had failed. The healing was influenced by the size of the tear, its situation near the posterior wall. In the first series (no weight bearing), there were 2 failures for 9 cases and 6 out of 21 in the second series and 3 incomplete healing. There was no correlation between meniscal functional results and functional ligamentous results evaluated with the I.K.D.C. score. 9 patients had an arthroscopy and 7 out of them a meniscectomy (after 17 months 3).

CONCLUSIONS

This study confirms the possibility of healing following suture of peripheral medial meniscal tears in the case of ACL reconstructive surgery (even if the tear is long). The use of arthrogram, before the operation and for anatomical control after the operation, ensures complete healing (better than M.R.I. for the suture control). Arthrography is certainly a less invasive technique than arthroscopy.